Fermion

What Fermion does

Fermion Oy is a Finnish active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturer and contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) headquartered in Espoo, Finland, and operating since 1970. The company develops, manufactures and markets over 30 generic APIs globally and provides CDMO services for approximately 10 new chemical entities (NCEs) across the full lifecycle from Phase I clinical development through commercial production. It also markets contract drug product manufacturing services — semi-solids, liquids, oral solids (including cytotoxics) and packaging — delivered through its parent Orion Corporation's facilities in Turku and Salo. Fermion sells to over 200 pharmaceutical companies worldwide and serves flagship programs such as Bayer's darolutamide (Nubeqa) for advanced prostate cancer, which has treated approximately 200,000 patients since first approval in 2019.

Fermion operates five sites in Finland: an R&D headquarters and GMP kilo-lab in Espoo; a high-volume API plant in Hanko (250 m³ reactor capacity, 180+ employees); an HPAPI-focused site in Oulu (75 m³, 100+ employees) recognized as the world's northernmost API facility; plus Orion's oral solids and semi-solids plant in Turku and the Salo packaging center handling 42+ million blister packs and bottles annually. Technical differentiation centers on high-potency API (HPAPI) handling at OEB4-5 containment levels, advanced crystallization with PAT tools, micronization (12 isolator chambers, OEL ≤100 ng/m³), pilot-scale flow chemistry with ATEX Zone 1 classification, and analytical development with 12 HPLC/UHPLC and three GC instruments. R&D is staffed by approximately 50 personnel, nearly 30% with PhDs.

Commercially, Fermion generates revenue through three streams: direct generic API sales (regulatory filings including DMF, CEP, ASMF, JMF, KDMF and BDMF covering USA, Europe, Japan, China, Korea and Brazil), CDMO fees for NCE development and commercial manufacturing, and CMO drug product fees routed through Orion. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; go-to-market is enterprise field sales supported by participation in CPhI, DCAT Week and ChemOutsourcing, dedicated account managers and a formal RfQ/site-visit evaluation process. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of publicly listed Orion Corporation, Fermion's financials are reported only on a consolidated basis.

Name

Fermion

Legal name

Fermion Oy

Website

https://fermion.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Fermion is a Finnish API manufacturer and CDMO, wholly-owned by Orion Corporation, producing 30+ generic APIs and providing contract development and manufacturing services for new chemical entities and finished drug products to 200+ pharmaceutical companies globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)

SIC

Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890)

akta.pro primary industry

Small-Molecule API Commercial Manufacturing (HLAGAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Drug Substance–Drug Product Integrated CDMO (HLAGABAG), Small-Molecule Drug Product (Solid/Oral/Parenteral) CDMO (HLAGABAB), Small-Molecule CMC Documentation & Regulatory Support (DMF/CMC) (HLAGAHAM), Clinical Trial Material (CTM) Manufacturing & Supply CDMO (HLAGABAK)

Keywords

• Active pharmaceutical ingredients
• Contract development and manufacturing
• Generic API manufacturing
• Drug substance manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical CDMO services

Headquarters

HQ city

Espoo

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Generic API Manufacturing and Sales: Fermion develops, manufactures and markets over 30 generic APIs to pharmaceutical companies globally in markets including USA, Europe, Japan, India and China. Revenue comes from direct API sales under contracts with generic pharmaceutical companies.
2. CDMO/Contract Development and Manufacturing: Contract development and manufacturing services for NCE (new chemical entity) drug substances from Phase I clinical studies through commercial production. Services include process development, analytical development, scale-up, and commercial manufacturing.
3. Drug Product CMO Services: Contract manufacturing of finished dosage forms including semi-solids, liquids, oral solids, and packaging services, marketed by Fermion but provided by Orion Corporation.
4. Regulatory Services: Regulatory support including DMF filings, CEP submissions, and regulatory affairs services supporting API approvals in major markets including USA, Europe, Japan, China, Australia, Taiwan and Brazil.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Fermion develops, manufactures, and markets active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), offering a fully integrated CDMO service together with its parent company Orion Corporation. The company produces a portfolio of over 30 generic APIs with global regulatory filings and provides contract development and manufacturing services for new chemical entities (NCEs) from Phase I through commercial production. Fermion also markets contract manufacturing services for finished dosage forms (semi-solids, oral solids, packaging) provided by Orion Corporation.

Product overview

Fermion is a fully integrated Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and subsidiary of Orion Corporation, offering services covering both drug substances and drug products. The core product portfolio consists of: (1) Generic APIs – a portfolio of over 30 generic active pharmaceutical ingredients with global regulatory filings; (2) CDMO API Services – contract development and manufacturing from Phase I through commercial production, supporting approximately 10 new chemical entities (NCEs); and (3) CMO Drug Product Services – finished dosage form manufacturing including semi-solids and liquids, oral solids, and packaging. These services are delivered through state-of-the-art manufacturing sites in Finland (Hanko, Oulu, Espoo, Turku, Salo) with R&D facilities in Espoo and pilot plant in Oulu. All sites operate under cGMP and are regularly inspected by FDA, EMA, and other global regulatory authorities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Generic APIs Portfolio of over 30 generic active pharmaceutical ingredients for the global market, including alprazolam, azathioprine, benserazide, budesonide, buspirone HCl, carbidopa, dexmedetomidine HCl, diltiazem HCl, entacapone, formoterol fumarate, hydroxychloroquine sulphate, irinotecan HCl, levosimendan, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, nadolol, nintedanib, quetiapine fumarate, sodium cromoglycate, tolnaftate, and toremifene citrate, with regulatory filings (DMF, CEP, ASMF, JMF) across the USA, Europe, Japan, Brazil, China, and Korea.
• CDMO API Services Contract development and manufacturing services for new chemical entity (NCE) drug substances spanning the full lifecycle from Phase I clinical studies through commercial production. Includes synthesis and process development, analytical method development, regulatory support, and technology transfer. Currently supports approximately 10 new chemical entities in development and commercial production.
• CMO Drug Product Services Contract manufacturing of finished dosage forms (FDF) marketed by Fermion but provided by Orion Corporation. Includes semi-solids and liquids (hormonal and non-hormonal), oral solids (tablets and capsules including cytotoxic), packaging, and technology transfer services.
• Semi-Solids and Liquids Manufacturing Contract development and manufacturing of hormonal and non-hormonal semi-solids and liquids including gels, ointments, creams, solutions, and suspensions. Capabilities include OEB4-5 containment, ATEX classified facilities, and over 45 years of pharmaceutical production experience.
• Oral Solids Manufacturing Contract manufacturing of tablets and capsules at facilities in Espoo and Turku. Capabilities include direct mixing, high shear mixing, fluid bed drying, coated or non-coated products, batch sizes from under 100kg to over 400kg, and OEB4-5 handling including cytotoxic compounds.
• Packaging Services Contract packaging services at Orion's Salo site including 3 blister packaging lines and 4 bottle lines, handling over 42 million blister packs and bottles annually. Includes serialization and aggregation capabilities for global markets including USA, EU, Brazil and Japan.
• Technology Transfer Services Efficient technology transfer from another manufacturing site or smooth transition of products from development phase to commercial manufacturing, including process development, scale-up, and regulatory support according to customer needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supplies APIs to over 200 pharmaceutical companies globally
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BayercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partnership to co-develop darolutamide (Nubeqa) for advanced prostate cancer. Bayer holds global marketing rights, Orion and Fermion handle all CMC and manufacturing from clinical development through commercial production. Orion manufactures drug products while Fermion manufactures the API. Orion holds co-promotion rights for Europe.
• Orion CorporationcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFermion is a fully owned subsidiary of Orion Corporation. All contract manufacturing services of Orion Group are marketed by Fermion, while drug product services are provided by Orion. Fermion leverages Orion's drug product manufacturing sites in Turku, Espoo, and Salo.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lonza: Global CDMO leader offering small-molecule API, HPAPI, and biologics services across a multi-continent footprint. Comparable API CDMO offering but at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Siegfried Holding: Swiss-based CDMO offering small-molecule API and finished dosage manufacturing across global sites. Comparable integrated CDMO model with strong HPAPI capabilities, though at significantly larger scale.
• Aurobindo Pharma: Large Indian generic pharmaceutical manufacturer with vertically integrated API and finished dosage manufacturing. Comparable on generic API portfolio breadth and global regulatory filings, but much larger and broader portfolio.
• Recipharm: European CDMO (acquired by EQT-backed consortium) offering API and drug product services across multiple sites. Comparable integrated CDMO model in the European market.

Direct peers

• Hovione: Portugal-based CDMO specializing in API development and manufacturing with strong HPAPI containment capabilities and integrated drug substance/intermediate services. Directly comparable to Fermion on small-molecule API CDMO positioning and HPAPI expertise.
• Piramal Pharma Solutions: India-headquartered CDMO with significant HPAPI and API manufacturing capabilities across multiple global sites. Comparable in serving innovator and generic pharma with CDMO API services.
• CordenPharma: European CDMO (PE-owned by Astorg) offering API manufacturing, HPAPI handling, and finished dosage forms across multiple sites. Comparable integrated small-molecule CDMO model serving generic and innovator pharma.
• Carbogen Amcis: Switzerland-based CDMO (subsidiary of Dishman Carbogen Amcis) with strong HPAPI API development and manufacturing capabilities. Comparable niche focus on highly potent compounds and integrated services.
• Cambrex: US-based small-molecule API CDMO acquired by Permira (2019) offering generic API and NCE development/manufacturing with HPAPI capabilities. Directly comparable business model and customer base to Fermion.

Others

• Orion Corporation: Fermion's parent company and integrated drug product manufacturing partner providing oral solids, semi-solids, and packaging services marketed by Fermion. Comparable pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities but operates as Fermion's principal customer/partner rather than competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fermion